Description

Lawrence of Arabia (Columbia, 1962). Full-Bleed Roadshow
Double-Sided Poster (30" X 40").
During the 1950s and early 1960s the studios were doing all they
could to bring the audience back into the theater as the loss to
television had left most of the majors crippled. Cinemascope, 3-D,
and other techniques were used to lure the audience back to the
theatrical experience. This is one of those posters that may have
been a marketing advancement used at the flagship theaters showing
the Roadshow engagement of this film. Placed on a light box, it is
perhaps one of the first of the double sided displays. We know that
Paramount Studios dabbled in the limited production of double-sided
posters during this period for some of their blockbuster films such
as Breakfast at Tiffany's, Zulu, One Eyed
Jacks, and Nevada Smith. Though similar in design to the
Style B Roadshow poster, this rolled one sheet has a bright red
title instead of black, and also lacks the Winston Churchill
quotation. Incredibly rare, we believe that there is only one other
copy that has survived due to their fragile plastic material, which
would crack if mishandled. Backed on linen, conservation to this
poster includes repairs to a small bit of paper loss in José
Ferrer's shoulder and few mild chips at the left corner and edge.
There were horizontal cracks that have been restored, but most of
these are in the background and do not affect the main image. There
is post-restoration wear in the form of some small stains and
smudges into the interior and a few cracks in the left background.
There has been airbrushing at the top and bottom with some possible
color enhancement in parts of the image and background. Fine+ on
Linen.